Circular-knitting machine



No. 623,539. Patented Apr. 25, |899.

A. a. Gummi.

CINGULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

(Applic 7 n led July 9, 1898.)

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Tn: Nenn s PErzns co, PHO-wurm., WASHINGTON. n. c.

Patented Apr 25, |899.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. .1. GuLlcH.'

CIRCULAR KNiTTING M AGHINE. Applxcatxon filed July 9, 1898\ 0, 9. waz/W4n w H 6 m IZ m o .WW N n@ lIl||IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII|lHVIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII lI|IIHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Wihjesscs TN:Npnms Pneus co pHoro-uma., wAsHmoToN, u. c.

No. 623,539. Patented Apr. 25. |899.

, A. .1. aumen.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

ppn aewnled July 9, 189s.) No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

ASHLEY J. GULICH, OF CLEARFIELD, PENNSYLVANIA.y

CIRCULAR-,KNITTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 623,539, dated April25, 1899.

Application iiled July 9. 1898. Serial No. 685,500. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, ASHLEY J. GULICH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Clearield, in the county of Clearfield and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Circular-Knitting Machine,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to circular-knitting machines; and it has for itsobject to effect certain improvements in machines of this character toprovide for simplifying the construction thereof while at the same timeinsuring a uniform and positive operation.

To this end the invention primarily contemplates improved means forrot-ating the revoluble cam ring or head in either direction Without theuse of the cog-gearing or other devices usually resorted to forimparting motion to this part of the knitting-machine, thereby greatlysimplifying the machine and also permitting the same to be manipulatedwith much greater facility.

Vhile one of thev essential features of the present invention is theprovision of a handle or crank-arm attachment for the cam ring or headto provide for the rotation of the latter in either direction withoutthe use of coggearing or similar mechanism. the invention also has forits object to provide a new and useful form of yarn-carrier rotatingwith the revoluble cam ring or head and having an improved yarn take-upand lock; and asa general object the invention has in view animprovement in the mounting of the various parts, especially of theneedle actuating cams, whereby 'all parts of the machine are readilyaccessible for the purposes of adjustment or repair.

With these and other objects in view, which will readily appear as thenature of the iuvention is better understood, the same consists in thenovel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, hereinaftermore fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a circular-knittingmachine embodying the improvements contemplated bythe present invention.Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view at one side of the plane of theyarn-carrier. Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective of the revoluble camring or head with the yarn-carrier and crank-supporting bracket attachedand shown removed from the basering and needle-cylinder. Fig. el. is afragmentary sectional view of the'cam ring or head, showing thearrangement and relative position of the needle-controlling cams. Fig. 5is a detail sectional view showing the adjustable connection of thependent yarn-guide arm with the crank-arm or handle-lever.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the numeral l designates thehorizontal basering of the machine, provided at one side with a clamp 2,by means of which the machine can be readily secured to a table, shelf,or similar support. The separate upper and lower members of the clampare preferably formed integral with the, base-ring casting, and one ofsaid clamp members has mounted therein the clamping-screw 3, which formsthe working member of the clamp and pro-- vides for the ready attachmentof the machine to its support.

The horizontal base-ring l of the machine is formed in its upper sidewith an annular.

guide rabbet or groove 4c andhas fastened to its upper side and at theinner peripheral edge thereof, by means of the screws or similarfastenings 5, the lower end of the upright needle-cylinder 6. The saidneedle-cylinder 6 is thus rigidly connected with the basering, so as toform a stationary part of the machine, and said needle-cylinderis of theordinary construction, being provided in its exterior face with acircumferential series of vertically-dis posed needle channels orgrooves 7, in which reciprocate the vertically-movable knitting-needlesS. The said knitting-needles are retained within their guide channels orgrooves in the ordinary manner and are provided at their lower ends withthe usual outwardly-disposed heel projections 9, which travel on thetrack formed by the upper edge l0 of the revoluble cam ring or head ll.

The revoluble cam ring or head ll loosely encircles the needle-cylinder(i at the lower end thereof and is provided at its lower edge with anoutturned bearing-flange 12, which loosely registers in the annularguide rabbet or groove 4, formed in the upper side of the base-ring l,and said bearing-flange l2 of the cam ring or head is detachablyretained within the said rabbet or groove t by means of a plurality ofretaining-platesl, detachably secured on the upper side of the base-ring1 by means of the screws or similar fasteners 14 and having their inneredges overlapping the peripheral edge ofthe flange 12, as plainlyillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The mounting of the camring or head 11 in the manner described permits this ring or head tofreely revolve or rotate around the stationary needle-cylinder, while atthe same time permitting the ready removal and replacing thereofwhenever necessary.

The upper track edge 10 of the revoluble cam ring or head 11 lies forits greater por tion in a horizontal plane, but at one side of the ringor head is downwardlycurved on the arc of a circle, as at 15, at whichpoint the ring or head 11 has rigidly fastened to the outer face thereofa segmental cam-supporting plate 10, to the inner concaved side of whicheamsupporting plate are iii ted the needle actuating or controlling cams1S, 19, and 20. The main cam 1S is' of an approximately triangularshape, with its apex disposed downwardly and having its inclined edgespreferably compoundly curved, as at 19, to insure a proper reciprocationor movement of the knitting-needles, and said cam is supported in placeby an adjusting-screw 20, projecting through a vertically-disposed slot21 in the cam-supporting plate 1G and working in a shortlongitudinally-disposed slot 22, formed in the adjusting-lever 23,arranged in the outer face of the cam-supporting plate 1G and pivoted atone end thereto. The adjustingdever 23 and its supporting screwconnection with the main cam 1S provides for the vertical adjustment ofsaid cam to enable the tension of the stitch to be varied within certainlimits, and these parts of the machine are the same in construction andoperation as the corresponding parts disclosed in my former patent No.560,712. The cams 1!) and 2O are respectively the right and left switchcams ordogs and are pivoted at their inner ends, as at 21, to the innerside of the camsupporting plate 1b', respectively, at opposite sides ofthe downwardly-pointing rounded apex or nose of the main cam 1S, and allof said cams 1S, 19, and 20 are arranged above and in the vertical planeof the downwardlycurved portion of the track to forni sinuous passagesfor lthe travel of the heel projections i) of the reciprocating needles,it being understood that as the cam-ring is rotated in one direction theheel projections or ends ot' the needles will enter between one of theswitch cams or dogs and the adjacent edge of the main cam 1S and passout of the camspace between the opposite switch cam or dog and theadjacent curved track edge 15, as plainly illustrated in Fig. t of thedrawings, and when the rotation is reversed the position of these dogsmust also be reversethwhieh can be accomplished by the propermanipulation of the needles in the usual way, as fully explained in myvformer patent herein referred to. At this point it may be observed thatthe construction and operation of the cams 1S, 19, and 20 are in allrespects similar to the construction and operation ot the correspondingcams in my former patent, the only material difference residing in themanner of mounting the cams on the cam-ring and the shape of thcinclined edges of the main cam 1S.

To provide for a rotation of the cam ring or head 11 on the base-ringand around the needle-cylinder, the said ring or head has projectedupwardly from the cam-supporting plate 1G thereof an uprightcrank-supporting bracket. 22". This crank-supporting bracket 22a isprovided at the top thereof with a V- shaped support 23, having thehorizontal divergent stop-arms 24, formed in their inner edges, neartheir outer ends, with the notches or recesses 25, and having theirouter ends joined with the upper ends of a pair of upright legs orstandards 2G, arising from the top edge of the cam-supporting plate 1t5.The V-shaped support 23 at the top of the bracket 22 is provided at itsapex with a central bearing-plate 27, arranged above thc vertical centerof the needle-cylinder and having pivoted thereto by means of thepivot-bolt 2S the inner end of the pivotal or swinging crank arm orlever 29, having at its outer end a hand-grasp 30.

At a point intermediate its ends the piv otal crank arm or lever 29 isprovided with a longitudinally-disposed slot 31 and a pair of pendentretaining-flanges 32, between which is arranged the heel-block 33 at theupper end of a vertically-disposed yarn-guide l-t, and an adjListing-screw 35 is arranged in the slot 31 and engages with saidheel-block 33 to provide for adjusting the yarnguide Si toward and fromthe needles, as may be required by the particular kind ofl knitting tobe donc. At its lower end the adjustable yarn-guide St is provided witha plate portion 36, having formed therein a guide-eye 37, through whichthe yarn 3S passes tothe hooks of the needles, and said yarn is carriedto the eye 37 through the guide eye or opening 3f), formed in the crankarln or lever 2) at an intermediate point. In operating the machine thecrank arm or lever 20 is grasped and thrown against one ofthe stop-arms21 of the crank-supporting bracket, and since this bracket is rigidlyconnected with the cam -ring a continued pressure on the crank arm orlever will provide for the rotation of the cam ring or head and aconsequent operation of the needles to provide for knitting t-he fabric.To reverse the machine, the cams are first properly adjusted and thecrank arm or lever 2f) moved in an opposite direction against the otherstoparm 21, and at this point itwill be noted that the notches orrecesses 25 of said stop-arms receive therein the retaining-tlanges 32when the crank arm or lever is pressed thereagainst.

The yarn for the machine is carried by a yarn-carrier 10, whichyarn-carrier is rigidly connected with the ring 11, so as to rotate IOOtherewith, and this connection with the cam ring or head is effectedthrough the medium of a supporting-leg 4l, rigidly fastened at one end,preferably by a slot-and-screw conneclion 42, to the ring 1l at the sidediametrically opposite the cam-supporting plate 16. The supporting-leg4l of the yarn-carrier has proj ected laterally therefrom a horizontalspindle 43, adapted to have detachably and loosely iitted thereon thespool or bobbin 44, which carries the yarn 38, and said leg 4l isfurther provided with an upper horizontal arm portion 45, on which issupported the upright standard 46. The upright standard 46 is providedat its lower end with an attaching-foot 47, pivotally fastened to thehorizontal arm portion 45 of the leg 4l by means of a vertical pivot-pin48, which permits the standard to turn axially, and thereby be swung ina lat'- eral direction away from the needle-cylinder, so as to beentirely out of the way of the hands when threading or adjusting theparts of the machine in and around the needle-cylinder. The saidlaterally-swinging upright standard 46 is provided at its upper end witha horizontal cross-arm 49, which cross-arm is provided near one end witha guide-opening 50 and adjacent to such guide-opening with alocking-notch 51 for the take-up spring or wire 52. The take-up springor wire 52 arches over the cross-arm 49, above the same, and is coiledat its upper end to form a terminal guide-eye 53 for the yarn, and thelower end of said spring or wire 52, which is bent into an approximate Lshape, is connected to a pivot-plate 54, pivotally mounted intermediateits ends, as at 55, on ,the standard 46 at a point between the upper andlower ends of said standard, and below the pivot 55 the plate 54 hasconnected'thereto one end of a retractile tension-spring 5G, the otherend of which spring detachably engages with the hook 57, projectedlaterally from a channeled adjustin g-plate 5S, slidably embracing thestandard 4G near its upper end and having a slot-andscrew connection 59therewith to provide for regulating the tension of the spring 5G, andconsequently the tension of the take-up Wire This take-up Wire underordinary conditions of knitting is engaged at its intermediate portionwithin the locking-notch 5l at one end of the cross-arm 49.

In conjunction with the take-up wire 52 there is employed a yarn-lockGO, having a guide-eye Gl at one terminal and bent at its opposite endinto a lock-loop 62, extending over the cross-arm 49. At the looped end62 thereof the yarn-lock 60 is pivoted to the said cross-arm 49, so thatit can readily swing up and down to bind the yarn on -top of saidcross-arm or to allow the yarn to pass through the guides 50, Gl, 53,39, and 37 freely to the needles. lVhen the. take-up wire52 is engagedin the locking-notch 5l, its upper end is depressed toward the guide-eye(5l at one end of the pivotal yarnflock 60, so that the lock orclamping-loop G2 will not bind on the yarn, but will permit the freefeed thereof to the needles, and this is the position of the parts onthe yarn-carrier when all of the needles of the machine are in operationand the cam ring or head is being rotated continuouslyin eitherdirection. However, when onlyaportion of the needles are in operation,as when knitting the heel in a stocking, and the cam ring or head ismoved back and forth the take-up wire 52 is released from the notch 5l,thereby elevating the yarn-lock 60 and causing the loop 62 thereof topinch the yarn on top of the cross-arm 49, and the said take-up wirewill then serve to take up the slack in the yarn without drawing thelatter from the bobbin. Substantially the same operation is carried outby the take-up wire and yarn-lock disclosed in my former patent hereinreferred to; but in the present invention the take-up Wire is arrangedand mounted differently from the corresponding part shown in the patentand is more effective in its operation to provide for properly taking upthe slack of the yarn and placing any tension desired thereon.

In the operation ofthe machine it is necessary to keep the fabricproperly stretched, and to provide for this I employ a work-holdingspider 63, essentially comprising a plurality of radially-disposedcurved hook-arms 64, radiating from a common center and provided attheir outer terminals with hooks 65, engaging with the fabric, and inFigs. 1 and 2 of the drawings these hooks are shown to engage the yarnto provide for holding the same when the needles are making the initialstitches. The said spider 63 has projected from its under side a pendenthook-rod (5G, carrying aplurality of detachable Weights G7, whichprovide for placing a proper tension or stretch on the knitted fabric,and it Will of course be understood that any number of these weights maybe employed according lo the kind of work or fabric being knitted. 4

Having described the essential features of the machine it is to be notedthat the needlecylinder and the cam ring or head are designed to beconstructed in various sizes, so as to make various sizes of fabric, andit will also be understood that various changes in the IOO IIO

form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resortedto Without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of theadvantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed,and desired to besecured by Letters Patent, is

l. In a circular-knitting machine, the stationary needle-cy1inder,arevoluble cam ring or head carrying the needle-controlling cams andhaving projected outwardly f rom one side thereof an uprightcrank-supporting bracket overhan ging the cylinder, and a crank arm orlever connected with the bracket at a point above the vertical center ofthe needle-cylinder and having a pendent yarn-guide, substantially asset forth.

2. In a circular-knitting machine, the stationaryneedle-cylinder, arevoluble cam ring or head carrying the needle-controlling cams, a crankarmor levcr connected with the cam ring or head, and a pendentvertically-disposed yarn-guide having at its upper cud a heel-blockadjustably interlocked with the crank arm or lever and provided at itslower end with a guide-eye for the yarn, substantially as set forth.

3. In a circular-knitting machine, a stationary base-ring supporting theneedle-cylinder, a revoluble cam ring or head loosely mounted on thebase-ring, a separate camsupporting plate fitted to the ring or head andhaving an upstanding crank-supporting bracket, needle-controllin g camsarranged at and fitted to the inner side of said cam-supporting plate,and a crank arm or lever connected with said supporting-bracket abovethe plane of the needle-cylinder, substantially as set forth.

4. In a circular-knitting machine, the stationary.needle-cylinder, arevoluble cam ring or head carrying the needle-controlling cams andhaving a rigid crank-supporting bracket overhanging the cylinder andprovided with abearing-plate arranged above the vertical center of saidcylinder, said bracket being also provided with stops and a crank arm orlever having a pivotal connection with said bearing-plate and adapted tomove independently between said stops, said crank arm or lever alsohaving a yarn-guide, substantially as set forth.

5. In a circular-knitting machine, the stationary needle-cylinder, arevoluble cam ring or head carrying the needle-controlling cams, and acrank arm or lever connected with the cam ring or head and having alimited movement in opposite directions independent of the latter, saidarm or lever having a yarnguide, substantially as set forth.

6. In a circular-knitting machine, the stationary needle-cylinder, arevoluble cam ring or head carrying the needle-controlling cams andhaving a crank-supporting bracket provided with spaced stops, and acrank arm or lever pivotally connected with the bracket at a point abovethe vertical center of the needle-cylinder and adapted to be movedagainst either of said stops, said-arm or lever having a pendentyarn-guide, substantially as set forth.

7. In a circular-knitting machine, the necdle-cylinder a revoluble camring or head carrying the needle-controlling cams and having a crank-supportin g bracket provided with spaced stops, and a crank arm orleve'rpivotally connected with the bracket -and adapted to 4be movedagainst either of the stops thereof, said crank arm or lever having ayarn-guide substantially as set forth.

S. In a circular-knitting machine, the needle-cylinder, a revoluble camring or head carrying the needle-controlling cams and having projectingupwardly from one side thereof an upright crank-supporting bracketcomprising apair of spaced upright legs or standards and a horizontalV-shaped support connected with the upper ends of said legs orstandards, said V-shaped support having a pair of divergent stop-arms,and a crank arm or lever pivotally connected at one end to thc V-shapedsupport at the apex thereof and adapted to be moved against either ofsaid stop-arms, substantially as set forth.

9. In a circular-knitting machine, the necdle-cylinder, a revoluble camring or head carrying the needle-controlling cams and having at one sidean upright crank-supporting bracket provided with horizontal spacedstoparms, a crank arm or lever pivotally connected with the bracket andhaving a play between the arms thereof, and a vertically-disposedyarn-guide supported by said crank arm or lever, substantially as setforth.

l0; In a circular-knitting machine, the ncedie-cylinder, a revoluble camring or head carrying the needle-controlling cams and having at one sidean upright crank-supporting bracket provided with horizontal spacedstoparms overhan gin g the needle cylinder,a crank arm or leverpivotally connected with the bracket and having a play between thcstoparms thereof, and a pendent vertically-disposed yarn-guide having atits upper end a heelblock adjustably connected with the crank arm orlever and at its lower end a guide-eye through which the yarn passes tothe needles, substantially as set forth.

ll. In acircular-knittingmachine, the needle-cylinder, a revoluble camring or head carrying the needle-controlling cams and having acrank-supporting bracket, a crank arm or lever connected with thebracket and having a limited movement in opposite directionsindependently thereof, said crank arm'or lever being providedintermediate its ends with a guide eye or opening for the yarn, and apendent yarn-guide provided at or near its lower end with a guide-eyeand having its other end adjustably connected with the crank arm orlever contiguous to the guide eye or opening, substantially as setforth.

12. In a circular-knitting machine, a stationary base-ring supportingthe needle-cylinder, a revoluble cam ring or head loosely mounted on thebase-ring and having a downwardly-curved track portion at one side, asegmental cam-supporting plate fitted to the ring or head at thedownwardly-curved portion thereof, and having an upstandingcranksupporting bracket, the needle-controlling cams arranged at theinner side of said camsupporting plate and lying above and in thevertical plane of said downwardlycurved track portion, and a crank armor lever connected with said supporting-bracket, substantially as setforth. y

13. In a circular-knitting machine, thc ncedle-cylinder, the cam ring orhead, means for causing a relative movement between the ncedle-cylinderand the cam ring or head, and a yarn-carrier arranged at one side of thenee- IOO IIO

dle-cylinder and having a pivotal standard carrying guide-eyes for theyarn, substantially as set forth.

14. In a circular-knitting machine, the needle-cylinder, a revolublecani ring or head carrying the needle-controlling cams, means forrotating said ring or head, and a` yarn-carrier rigidly connected withthe ring or head and having a laterally-swin gin g standard carryingguide-eyes for the yarn, substantially as set forth.

15. In a circular-knitting machine, the needle-cylinder, a revoluble camring or head, means for rotating said ring or head, a yarncarrierrigidly connected with the ring or head and having a laterally-Swingin gstandard,and a bobbin-support and guide-eyes for the yarn fitted to saidcarrier, substantially as set forth. Y

16. In a circular-knitting machine, the needle-cylinder, a` cam ring orhead, means for causing a relative movement between the cylinder and thecam ring or head, a yarn-carrier arranged at one side of the cylinderand having an upright' standard provided at its upper end with thecross-arm having a lock-Y ing-notch at one end, and a guide-opening forthe yarn contiguous to the notch, a pivotal yarn-lock mounted on thecross-arm, a takeup wire having a pivotal support at one end on thestandard and at its other end a guideeye to receive the yarn from saidlock, the intermediate portion of the take-up wire being adapted toengage in said locking-notch, and a tension device connected with thetake-up wire at or contiguous to the pivoted end thereof, substantiallyas set forth.

17. In a circular-knitting machine, the needle-cylinder, a revoluble camring or head,

means for rotating said ring or head, a yarncarrier having abobbin-spindle, and an upright standard supported by and carried withthe ring or head, said standard being provided at its upper end with across-arm having a locking-notch at one end, a pivotal yarnlock mountedon the cross-arm,a take-up wire having a pivotal support at one end onthe standard, and at its other end aguide-eye to receive the yarn fromsaid lock, the intermediate portion of the take-up wire being adapted toengage in said locking-notch, a vertically-movable plate adjustablyfitted to said standard, and a tension-spring havingits opposite endsrespectively connected with said plate and the pivotal support or end ofthe take-up wire, substantially as set forth.`

18. In a circular-'knitting machine, the needle-cylinder, a cam ring orhead, means for causing a relative movement between said cylinder andthe cam ring or head, a yarn-carrier arranged at one side ofthe cylinderand having an upright standard, a bobbin-support fitted to theyarn-carrier, a yarn-lock mounted on the standard, a pivotally-supportedspring take-np wire cooperating with the yarn-lock and having aninterlocking engagement With the standard, and a variable tension devicehaving connection with the take-up wire at or contiguous to the pivotedportion thereof, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy si gnaturein the presence of two Witnesses.

ASHLEY J. GULICH.

Witnesses:

W. H. DENNING, H. P. BRIDGE.

